What is UDL?

What is Universal Design for Learning?

Universal Design for Learning is a set of principles for curriculum development that give all individuals equal opportunities to learn.

UDL provides a blueprint for creating instructional goals, methods, materials, and assessments that work for everyone--not a single, one-size-fits-all solution but rather flexible approaches that can be customized and adjusted for individual needs.

Why is UDL necessary?

Individuals bring a huge variety of skills, needs, and interests to learning. Neuroscience reveals that these differences are as varied and unique as our DNA or fingerprints. Three primary brain networks come into play:

Recognition Networks

The "what" of learning-How we gather facts and categorize what we see, hear, and read. Identifying letters, words, or an author's style are recognition tasks

Strategic Networks

The "how" of learning- Planning and performing tasks. How we organize and express our ideas. Writing an essay or solving a math problem are strategic tasks.

Affective Networks

The "why" of learning-How learners get engaged and stay motivated. How they are challenged, excited, or interested. These are affective dimensions.